Helicopter rescues cathedral woman

A woman has been winched up by a helicopter after falling around 20 to 30ft between two turrets of a cathedral.

The casualty, who is thought to be in her 60s, is believed to have been on a tour of Wells Cathedral in Somerset when she fell shortly after midday.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokeswoman said a helicopter from RAF Kinloss in the north of Scotland airlifted the woman to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol with what are believed to be arm and pelvic injuries.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue said a ppliances from Wells, Shepton Mallet, Bridgwater and Street were sent to the scene and worked alongside paramedics and a doctor.

A spokesman for Wells Cathedral said the 68-year-old woman was part of a tour group of around a dozen, accompanied by two guides.

"The emergency services did a fantastic job," he said. "She fell inside the cathedral but they took her out through the top of the roof."

He said he did not have any further information about how the incident happened and an investigation would take place.

A spokesman for South Western Ambulance Service said the woman was trapped in a void between two walls 150ft up inside the bell tower.

She was given pain relief and its hazardous area response team worked with the fire crews to winch her up to a platform for assessment before she was then taken to the roof of the cathedral from where she was winched into the helicopter.

She is suspected to have broken wrists, a broken pelvis and abdominal injuries, the spokesman said.

Wells Cathedral later confirmed in a statement that the woman fell during a high parts tour.

The statement said: "A group of 12 adults were undertaking the final stage of a standard Cathedral high parts tour. While the group was undertaking a briefing within this space, an incident occurred to one of the party members.

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"The cathedral's emergency procedure was immediately put into operation.

"No details are yet available as to how the incident occurred but all further high parts tours and cathedral tower tours are cancelled until further notice while a review of the incident takes place."

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Comments (4)

So a 68 year old woman is "thought to be in her sixties"?
Impressive.JimMachen

So a 68 year old woman is "thought to be in her sixties"? Impressive.

Score: 2

blackmasquerade says...5:49pm Tue 29 Apr 14

Why use a helicopter from Kinloss. Surely there's something closer?

Why use a helicopter from Kinloss. Surely there's something closer?blackmasquerade

Why use a helicopter from Kinloss. Surely there's something closer?

Score: 0

blackmasquerade says...6:33pm Tue 29 Apr 14

blackmasquerade wrote…

Why use a helicopter from Kinloss. Surely there's something closer?

Turns out the helicopter came from RAF Chivenor in Devon, which makes sense!

[quote][p][bold]blackmasquerade[/bold] wrote:
Why use a helicopter from Kinloss. Surely there's something closer?[/p][/quote]Turns out the helicopter came from RAF Chivenor in Devon, which makes sense!blackmasquerade

blackmasquerade wrote…

Why use a helicopter from Kinloss. Surely there's something closer?

Turns out the helicopter came from RAF Chivenor in Devon, which makes sense!

Score: 0

Rod Ward says...8:52pm Tue 29 Apr 14

For video of the cathedral roof in happier times see http://youtu.be/DBlC 0BA__lk

For video of the cathedral roof in happier times see http://youtu.be/DBlC
0BA__lkRod Ward

For video of the cathedral roof in happier times see http://youtu.be/DBlC 0BA__lk

Score: 0

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